Personal care appliance

ABSTRACT

Portable, electrically driven, handheld sonic personal skin/hair care device includes a housing and a drive assembly to which is coupled a treatment member. The treatment member may include active ingredients incorporated during manufacturing that safely resist and inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. The drive assembly includes a stator assembly, armature assembly, mounting member attached to the housing, elongated pivot arm having a first end directly coupled to the armature assembly and a second end directly coupled to the mounting member, and mounting arm having first and second ends, the first end being directly coupled to the armature assembly and the second end being directly coupled to the treatment member such that the stator, when energized, causes oscillation of the armature in an arcuate manner about a pivot point located at the mounting member in turn causing the treatment member to oscillate relative to the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/639,575, filed on Mar. 5, 2015, entitled “Personal Care Appliance,”which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/951,070 entitled “Personal Care Appliance” filed onMar. 11, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to personal care appliances, such as apower skin care brush, that are used to care for, clean and otherwisetreat skin and hair, and, in particular, to a portable, electricallydriven, handheld device that may be used to care for, clean andotherwise treat skin and hair.

2. Description of the Related Art

Handheld personal care appliances used to care for, clean or otherwisetreat the skin or hair (e.g., to clean, massage and/or apply creams,cleansing solutions or other substances to the skin or hair) are knownand have gained increasing popularity. Such devices are most often usedto provide daily hygienic skin care, in particular care for the facialskin. These devices usually include a small handheld casing having aninternal motor and a self-contained power source (such as a battery) forproducing a particular movement/action of a workpiece (e.g., a brush orpad), which in turn produces desired functional results. Examples ofsuch appliances include power skin brushes and power toothbrushes, amongothers. Such personal care appliances have motor arrangements whichproduce either rotational movement or oscillating (back and forth)movement.

While many such devices are known, there is room for improvement in thefield of personal care appliances such as handheld skin and hairtreatment devices. Hence, it is desirable to have a personal careappliance having a drive assembly which is powerful (stronger andfaster), energy efficient, quiet and durable. It would also be furtherdesirable to, according to an aspect of the present invention describedherein, incorporate into the workpiece during the manufacturing stageactive ingredients that are safe for use on the skin and resist andinhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria on theworkpiece keeping the workpiece cleaner and healthier for a longerperiod of time. By helping prevent the growth of microorganisms, stainand odor control is also achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apersonal care appliance that (i) employs a new and improved mechanismfor producing oscillating action of a workpiece, such as a brush or pad,which is powerful (stronger and faster), energy efficient, quiet anddurable, and (ii) utilizes a workpiece incorporating active ingredientsin the manufacturing stage that are safe for use on the skin and resistand inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria on theworkpiece to maintain the workpiece cleaner and healthier for a longerperiod of time. By helping prevent the growth of microorganisms, stainand odor control is also achieved.

In one embodiment, a personal care appliance is provided that includes ahousing, a drive assembly provided in the housing, and a workpiecemember coupled to and driven by the drive assembly. On one specificexemplary implementation, the workpiece member includes activeingredients incorporated during the manufacturing stage that safelyresist and inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria.The drive assembly includes a stator assembly, an armature assemblyadjacent the stator assembly and responsive to the stator action to movethrough a path, a mounting member attached to the housing of thepersonal care appliance, an elongated pivot arm having a first enddirectly coupled to the armature assembly and a second end directlycoupled to the mounting member such that the armature in operationoscillates in an arcuate manner about a pivot point located at themounting member, and a mounting arm having a first end and a second end,the first end being directly coupled to the armature assembly. Thestator, when energized, is structured to cause the armature to oscillate(which oscillation, as described above, is in an arcuate manner about apivot point located at the mounting member). The workpiece member iscoupled to the second end of the mounting arm such that oscillation ofthe armature assembly causes the workpiece member to oscillate relativeto the housing.

In another embodiment, a personal care appliance is provided thatincludes a housing, a drive assembly provided in the housing, the driveassembly including a stator assembly and an armature assembly adjacentthe stator assembly, wherein the stator, when energized, is structuredto cause the armature to oscillate, and a workpiece member coupled tothe armature assembly such that oscillation of the armature assemblycauses the workpiece member to oscillate relative to the housing,wherein the workpiece member includes one or more components made withan antimicrobial material that is both (i) safe for use on the skin, and(ii) resists and/or inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and/orbacteria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front elevational view, FIG. 1B is a side elevational view,and FIG. 1C is a rear elevational view of a handheld skin care andtreatment device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device of FIGS. 1A-1C in acondition wherein the second portion of the main housing has beenremoved;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of device of FIGS. 1A-1C in acondition wherein a front part of the first portion of the main housinghas been removed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevational view of the drive assembly andbrush head assembly of the device of FIGS. 1A-1C; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevational view of an alternative driveassembly and brush head assembly that may be used with the device ofFIGS. 1A-1C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or elements are“coupled” shall mean that the parts are joined or operate togethereither directly or indirectly, i.e., through one or more intermediateparts or elements, so long as a link occurs.

As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directlyin contact with each other.

As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two elements arecoupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientationrelative to each other.

As used herein, the word “unitary” means a part is created as a singlepiece or unit. That is, a part that includes pieces that are createdseparately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” partor body.

As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts or elements“engage” one another shall mean that the parts exert a force against oneanother either directly or through one or more intermediate parts orelements.

As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integergreater than one (i.e., a plurality).

Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example and withoutlimitation, top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, back, andderivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown inthe drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expresslyrecited therein.

FIG. 1A is a front elevational view, FIG. 1B is a side elevational view,and FIG. 1C is a rear elevational view of a handheld personal careappliance 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. In the illustrated embodiment, personal care appliance 2includes a two-part main housing 4 having a first (front) portion 6 anda second (rear) portion 8 coupled to the first portion 6. Also, mainhousing 4 includes a handle portion 10 provided at a first end thereofand structured to enable the user to grip and hold personal careappliance 2, and an attachment portion 12 provided at a second endthereof and structured to mount and hold a workpiece member in a mannerthat permits the workpiece member to be oscillated for use in skinand/or hair care, cleaning and treatment as described in detail herein.In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, handle portion 10 is providedwith non-slip overlay portions 11A and 11B that are coupled to thesurface of handle portion 10. Non-slip overlay portions 11A and 11B aremade of a material, such as rubber, and include a plurality ofprotruding members (e.g., bumps) 13 to aid in securely gripping andholding personal care appliance 2.

In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, workpiece member is acircular brush head assembly 14 having a base member 15, a plurality ofbristles 16 arranged on and extending from base member 15 in a circularpattern, and a locking ring 17 structured to secure brush head assembly14 in place. It will be appreciated, however, that other types ofworkpiece members may be used in place of bush head assembly 14, suchas, without limitation, a pad member assembly or massage head assembly.

Because of the presence of microbes such as bacteria and fungi in allwalks of human life, there is a constant interaction between microbesand humans. This is especially so in the workpiece member, where skincells left on the bristles 16 from the exfoliating effects of the brushhead or other workpiece member provide a food source for microorganisms,which when combined with moisture and light, provide a breeding groundfor the growth of mold, mildew and fungus, as well as, microbes,pathogens and bacteria, such as E. coli and Staph, and othermicroorganisms. Tests have shown that on unprotected surfaces, bacteriacan double in number every 20 minutes.

Thus, in one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the components of theworkpiece member including, without limitation, the bristles 16 are madewith active ingredients during the manufacturing stage that are both (i)safe for use on the skin, and (ii) resist and inhibit the growth ofmold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria on the workpiece member, keepingthe workpiece member cleaner and healthier for a longer period of time.By helping prevent the growth of microorganisms, stain and odor controlis also achieved.

Such active ingredients may include, for example and without limitation,silver ion technology (wherein silver ions are incorporated as anadditive at the time of manufacture, or applied as a coating aftermanufacture), which forms a safe protective antimicrobial surface toresist and inhibit bacterial growth by up to 99.94%. Such activeingredients may further include, without limitation, essential plantoils (e.g., cinnamon oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, oregano oil,lavender oil, leleshwa oil, lemon oil, lemon myrtle oil, mint oil, neemoil, nigella sativa (black cumin) oil, peppermint oil, sandalwood oil,ironwort oil, tea tree oil, and thyme oil), and essential minerals, orbacteria resistant polymers (e.g., a polymer that reduces the ability ofpathogenic bacteria to attach to the polymer).

An actuator mechanism 18 including a number of buttons is provided onhandle portion 10 for controlling the operation of personal careappliance 2 (i.e., controlling the starting, stopping and/or speed ofthe movement of brush head assembly 14). In addition, handle portion 10also includes a number of indicator lights 19 for indicating variousmodes of operation of personal care appliance 2.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of personal care appliance 2 in acondition wherein the second portion 8 of main housing 4 has beenremoved. FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of personal care appliance 2in a condition wherein a front part of the first portion 6 of mainhousing 4 (i.e., the part located at attachment portion 12) has beenremoved. FIGS. 2 and 3 allow the internal components of personal careappliance 2 to be readily viewed. As seen in FIG. 2, a main circuitboard 20 is mounted and held within handle portion 10 of main housing 4.Main circuit board 20 includes the control electronics which control theoperation of personal care appliance 2. A rechargeable battery 22 iscoupled to main circuit board 20 and is adapted to provide power forpersonal care appliance 2.

In addition, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a drive assembly 24 is mountedand held within attachment portion 12 of main housing 4. Brush headassembly 14 is structured to be selectively attached to drive assembly24 so that, as described in more detail below, drive assembly 24 is ableto move brush head assembly 14 in an oscillating manner with respect tomain housing 4. FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevational view of driveassembly 24 and brush head assembly 14 (without the associated portionsof main housing 4).

As seen in FIGS. 2-4, drive assembly 24 includes an electric motor 26that is coupled to main circuit board 20 and rechargeable battery 22 bywires 28. Motor 26 includes a stator assembly 30 and an armatureassembly 32. Stator assembly 30 includes an E-core member 34 havingfirst and second outer legs and a center leg in between the outer legs,and a stator coil 36 wrapped around the center leg of E-core member 34.Armature assembly 32 includes a main body portion 38 and first andsecond magnets 40A, 40B spaced apart from one another and coupled to afirst side of main body portion 38. First and second magnets 40A, 40Bare oriented such that the poles of first and second magnets 40A, 40Bface in opposite directions (e.g., the N pole of magnet 40A faces statorassembly 30 and the S pole of magnet 40 B faces stator assembly 30).

Drive assembly 24 further includes a pivot arm 42 having a first end 44directly coupled to a second side of main body portion 38 (opposite thefirst side thereof). In the exemplary embodiment, pivot arm 42 is athin, elongated piece of metal such as, without limitation steel. Driveassembly 24 also includes a mounting member 46 which is coupled to firstportion 6 of main housing 4. In the exemplary embodiment, mountingmember 46 is made of a plastic material, such as, without limitation, athermoplastic, by a molding process. As seen in FIG. 2, mounting memberincludes a base portion 48 and first and second arms 50A and 50Bextending outwardly and downwardly from base member 48 such that the endof arms 50A and 50B are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of basemember 48. A second end 52 of pivot arm 42 is directly coupled to basemember 48. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, the longitudinal axis of pivot arm42 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of base member 48. In theexemplary embodiment, an end portion of second end 52 of pivot arm 42 ismolded inside base portion 48 such that end portion of second end 52 ofpivot arm 42 is fixed inside and not moveable relative to base portion48. As described herein, only the portion of pivot arm 42 that islocated outside of base portion 48 is moveable relative to base portion48.

First and second constraining members 54A and 54B are attached torespective ones of the arms 50A and 50B and extend in a direction thatis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of pivot arm 42. In theexemplary embodiment, constraining members 54A and 54B comprise springsto constrain and assist (i.e., drive) the movement of pivot arm 42 whennecessary, which is believed to assist with the generation of speedand/or power of the oscillations.

Drive assembly 24 further includes a mounting arm assembly 56 forcoupling brush head assembly 14 to drive assembly 24. In particular,mounting arm assembly 56 includes a first end 58 that is directlycoupled to main body portion 38 of armature assembly 32, and a pegmember 60 that is structured to be selectively coupled to brush headassembly 14 through a central aperture provided in attachment portion 12(peg member 60 is structured to extend through that central aperture tofacilitate selective connection of brush head assembly 14, or adifferent skin treatment attachment device, thereto). Thus, as shown inFIG. 4, when assembled, the center of base member 15 of brush headassembly 14 will be positioned directly over armature assembly 32.

In operation, when power is provided to motor 26 by rechargeable battery22, armature assembly 32 will be caused to oscillate back and forth inan arcuate path about a pivot point located at mounting member 48 as aresult of the changing magnetic field produced in stator assembly 30 andthe interaction of magnets 40A, 40B therewith. As a result, brush headassembly 14 will be caused to oscillate with respect to main housing 4.A user may then apply the oscillating bush head assembly 14 to differentareas of skin and/or hair (e.g., the face, feet, etc.) to provide careand treatment for the skin and/or hair, for example by using theoscillating brush head assembly to apply a cleansing solution or anothersubstance to the user's skin and/or hair.

In one particular exemplary embodiment, personal care appliance 2 isstructured and configured such that brush head assembly 14 will becaused to oscillate with respect to main housing 4 at a rate up to 330times/second. In addition, in this particular embodiment, rechargeablebattery 22 is structured and configured such that personal careappliance 2 will operate for about 30-40 minutes on a single charge andsuch that only about 2 milliamperes is consumed when personal careappliance 2 is not in use (which prolongs the battery life).

FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevational view of a drive assembly 62according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Drive assembly 62 may be used in place of drive assembly 24to drive brush head assembly 14. As seen in FIG. 5, drive assembly 62includes an electric motor 64 that may be coupled to main circuit board20 described herein by wires 28. Motor 64 is similar to motor 26 andincludes a stator assembly 66 and an armature assembly 68. Statorassembly 66 includes an E-core member 70 having first and second outerlegs and a center leg in between the outer legs, and a stator coil 72wrapped around the center leg of E-core member 70. Armature assembly 68includes a main body portion 74 and first and second magnets 76 spacedapart from one another and coupled to a first side of main body portion74. First and second magnets 76 are oriented such that the poles thereofface in opposite directions.

Drive assembly 62 further includes a pivot arm 78 having a first end 80directly coupled to a second side of main body portion 74 (opposite thefirst side thereof). In the exemplary embodiment, pivot arm 78 is athin, elongated piece of metal such as, without limitation steel. Driveassembly 62 also includes a mounting member 82 which may be coupled tofirst portion 6 of main housing 4. Mounting member 82 includes a baseportion 84 and first and second arms 86 extending outwardly anddownwardly from base member 84 such that the end of arms 86 areperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of base member 84. A second end88 of pivot arm 78 is directly coupled to base member 82. Thus, thelongitudinal axis of pivot arm 78 is perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of base member 84. Also, first and second constraining members(like constraining members 54A and 54B) are attached to respective onesof the arms 86 and extend in a direction that is perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of pivot arm 78. In the exemplary embodiment, an endportion of second end 88 of pivot arm 78 is molded inside base portion84 such that end portion of second end 88 of pivot arm 78 is fixedinside and not moveable relative to base portion 84. As describedherein, only the portion of pivot arm 78 that is located outside of baseportion 84 is moveable relative to base portion 84.

Drive assembly 62 also further includes an S-shaped mounting arm 90 forcoupling brush head assembly 14 to drive assembly 62. In particular,S-shaped mounting arm 90 includes a first portion 92, an elongatedsecond portion 94 coupled to first portion 92, and a third portion 96coupled to second portion 94. As seen in FIG. 5, in the exemplaryembodiment, first portion 92 and third portion 96 extend in directionsthat are parallel to one another, and second portion 94 extends in adirection that is perpendicular to first and third portions 92, 96. Alsoin the exemplary embodiment, mounting arm 90 is a thin, elongated pieceof metal such as, without intimation steel. First end 92 of mounting arm90 is directly coupled to main body portion 74 of armature assembly 68,and third portion 96 is structured to be selectively coupled to brushhead assembly 14 through a central aperture provided in attachmentportion 12 (third portion 96 is structured to extend through thatcentral aperture to facilitate selective connection of brush headassembly 14, or a different skin treatment attachment device, thereto).Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when assembled, the center of base member 15of brush head assembly 14 will be positioned over a midpoint 98 of pivotarm 78.

In operation, when power is provided to motor 64, armature assembly 68will be caused to oscillate back and forth in an arcuate path about apivot point provided at mounting member 82 as a result of the changingmagnetic field produced in stator assembly 66 and the interaction ofmagnets 70 therewith. As a result, brush head assembly 14 will be causedto oscillate with respect to main housing 4. A user may then apply theoscillating bush head assembly 14 to different areas of skin (e.g., theface, feet, etc.) to provide care and treatment for the skin, forexample by using the oscillating brush head assembly to apply acleansing solution to the user's skin.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall notbe construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” or “including”does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than thoselisted in a claim. In a device claim enumerating several means, severalof these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. Theword “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of aplurality of such elements. In any device claim enumerating severalmeans, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same itemof hardware. The mere fact that certain elements are recited in mutuallydifferent dependent claims does not indicate that these elements cannotbe used in combination.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration based on what is currently considered to be the mostpractical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that suchdetail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limitedto the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to covermodifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood thatthe present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one ormore features of any embodiment can be combined with one or morefeatures of any other embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal care appliance, comprising: a housing;a drive assembly provided in the housing, the drive assembly including astator assembly, an armature assembly adjacent the stator assembly, amounting member attached to the housing, an elongated pivot arm having afirst end directly coupled to the armature assembly and a second enddirectly coupled to the mounting member, and a mounting arm having afirst end and a second end, the first end being directly coupled to thearmature assembly, wherein the stator, when energized, is structured tocause the armature to oscillate in an arcuate manner about a pivot pointlocated at the mounting member; and a workpiece member coupled to thesecond end of the mounting arm such that oscillation of the armatureassembly causes the workpiece member to oscillate relative to thehousing.
 2. The personal care appliance according to claim 1, whereinthe mounting member has a base member having a first longitudinal axis,wherein the pivot arm has a second longitudinal axis perpendicular tothe first longitudinal axis.
 3. The personal care appliance according toclaim 1, wherein the mounting arm is an S-shaped mounting arm such thata central portion of the workpiece member is positioned over a centralportion of the pivot arm between the armature assembly and the mountingmember.
 4. The personal care appliance according to claim 3, wherein thepivot arm has a midpoint, and wherein a center of the workpiece memberis positioned directly over the midpoint.
 5. The personal care applianceaccording to claim 4, wherein the mounting arm has an elongated centralportion provided between the first end and the second end, the elongatedcentral portion having a third longitudinal axis that is parallel to thesecond longitudinal axis when the armature assembly is not oscillating.6. The personal care appliance according to claim 5, wherein themounting arm has a first portion including the first end of the mountingarm and a second portion including the second end of the mounting arm,wherein the first portion and the second portion are perpendicular tothe third longitudinal axis.
 7. The personal care appliance according toclaim 1, further comprising a first constraining member providedadjacent a first side of the pivot arm and a second constraining memberprovided adjacent a second side of the pivot arm opposite the first sideof the pivot arm.
 8. The personal care appliance according to claim 7,wherein the first and second constraining members are each oriented in adirection that is perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis of thepivot arm.
 9. The personal care appliance according to claim 9, whereinthe first and second constraining members each include a spring.
 10. Thepersonal care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the workpiecemember is selectively attachable to and detachable from the second endof the mounting arm.
 11. The personal care appliance according to claim1, wherein the workpiece member comprises a brush head assembly having aplurality of bristles extending therefrom.
 12. The personal careappliance according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece member comprisesone or more components made with an antimicrobial material that is both(i) safe for use on the skin, and (ii) resists and/or inhibits thegrowth of mold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria.
 13. The personal careappliance according to claim 12, wherein the workpiece member comprisesa brush head assembly having a plurality of bristles extendingtherefrom, wherein the bristles include the antimicrobial material as anadditive thereto and/or are coated with the antimicrobial material. 14.The personal care appliance according to claim 12, wherein theantimicrobial material includes silver ions.
 15. The personal careappliance according to claim 12, wherein the antimicrobial materialincludes essential plant oils and/or essential minerals.
 16. Thepersonal care appliance according to claim 12, wherein the antimicrobialmaterial includes a bacteria resistant polymer.
 17. The personal careappliance according to claim 11, wherein the brush head assemblycomprises a circular, disk shaped base member.
 18. The personal careappliance according to claim 1, wherein the elongated pivot arm is madeof metal.
 19. The personal care appliance according to claim 1, whereinthe armature assembly includes a main body and a pair of magnetsattached to the main body, and wherein the first end of the mounting armis directly coupled to the main body.
 20. The personal care applianceaccording to claim 1, wherein a portion of the second end of the pivotarm is provided inside the mounting member such that portion of thesecond end of the pivot arm is fixed inside and not moveable relative tothe mounting member.
 21. The personal care appliance according to claim1, wherein the housing includes a handle portion, and wherein the handleportion is provided with a number of overlay portions structured toprevent the personal care appliance from slipping during use.
 22. Thepersonal care appliance according to claim 17, wherein the overlayportions are made of a rubber material.
 23. The personal care applianceaccording to claim 16, wherein the overlay portions include a pluralityof protruding members extending outwardly therefrom.
 24. A personal careappliance, comprising: a housing; a drive assembly provided in thehousing, the drive assembly including a stator assembly and an armatureassembly adjacent the stator assembly, wherein the stator, whenenergized, is structured to cause the armature to oscillate; and aworkpiece member coupled to the armature assembly such that oscillationof the armature assembly causes the workpiece member to oscillaterelative to the housing, wherein the workpiece member comprises one ormore components made with an antimicrobial material that is both (i)safe for use on the skin, and (ii) resists and/or inhibits the growth ofmold, mildew, fungus and/or bacteria.
 25. The personal care applianceaccording to claim 24, wherein the workpiece member comprises a brushhead assembly having a plurality of bristles extending therefrom,wherein the bristles include the antimicrobial material as an additivethereto and/or are coated with the antimicrobial material.
 26. Thepersonal care appliance according to claim 24, wherein the antimicrobialmaterial includes silver ions.
 27. The personal care appliance accordingto claim 24, wherein the antimicrobial material includes essential plantoils and/or essential minerals.
 28. The personal care applianceaccording to claim 24, wherein the drive assembly includes a mountingmember attached to the housing, an elongated pivot arm having a firstend directly coupled to the armature assembly and a second end directlycoupled to the mounting member, and a mounting arm having a first endand a second end, the first end being coupled to the armature assembly,and wherein the workpiece member coupled to the second end of themounting arm such that oscillation of the armature assembly causes theworkpiece member to oscillate relative to the housing.